Workday on Monday announced that CEO Carl Eschenbach is stepping down from his role and will be replaced by the company's co-founder, Aneel Bhusri, effective immediately.Bhusri has previously held a range of leadership roles at the software maker, serving as co-CEO from 2009 to 2014, CEO from 2014 to 2020, co-CEO from 2020 to 2024 and executive chair from 2024 to 2026. Eschenbach was named co-CEO of Workday alongside Bhusri in 2022, and took on the top job solo in 2024. Software stocks, including Workday, h ...

Group 1 - Novo Nordisk is suing Hims & Hers over the sale of copycat versions of its Wegovy obesity treatment, claiming it deceives patients and risks their health [3] - Hims & Hers announced it would withdraw its copycat weight-loss pill from the market after legal threats from Novo Nordisk, which sells its pills for approximately $149 [3] - Shares of Hims & Hers fell over 20% in premarket trading, while Novo Nordisk's shares rose about 5.5% [4] Group 2 - Meta is facing two significant trials this week that could impact the company and the social media industry [6] - In New Mexico, Meta is accused of failing to protect child users from online predators and facilitating access to exploitative materials [7] - A separate trial in Los Angeles involves allegations that Meta and other platforms did not inform users about potential mental health risks associated with their apps [7] Group 3 - Gen Z is showing a strong interest in the aesthetic of 2016, with increased searches and playlists from that year [8] - This trend is attributed to economic unease, leading consumers to revert to familiar styles from a perceived stable era [9] - Brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria's Secret, and Urban Outfitters are expected to benefit from this nostalgia-driven consumer behavior [9]

Core Viewpoint - Meta is facing a high-profile trial initiated by the state of New Mexico, alleging that the company failed to protect child users on its platforms from online predators and harmful content [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Challenges - The lawsuit claims that Meta directed users, including children, towards sexually explicit and exploitative materials, facilitating human trafficking within New Mexico [2]. - This trial is part of a series of significant legal cases against Meta in 2025, which could have substantial implications for the company and the social media industry as a whole [3]. - The allegations against Meta are compared to lawsuits against "Big Tobacco" in the 1990s, highlighting concerns over the potential harm of social media products [3]. Group 2: Related Trials and Developments - A separate trial in Los Angeles involves allegations against Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap for failing to disclose the safety of their apps, with TikTok and Snap settling before the trial [4]. - Opening statements in the Los Angeles trial were delayed due to the illness of a lead attorney, with Meta's Instagram head and CEO scheduled to testify [5]. - Another upcoming trial in Northern California will address claims that Meta and other companies created defective apps leading to unhealthy behaviors in teens and children [7]. Group 3: Meta's Response - Meta has denied the allegations from New Mexico, asserting its commitment to supporting young users [6]. - The company argues that content shared on its platforms is protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, despite the lawsuits suggesting that app designs endanger young users [6].

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk is suing Hims & Hers for marketing unapproved copies of its Wegovy obesity drug, claiming it deceives patients and poses health risks due to lack of regulatory verification [1][2][7]. Group 1: Legal Actions and Claims - Novo is seeking a permanent ban on Hims from selling compounded versions of its drugs that infringe on patents and is pursuing damages [2]. - Hims announced it would stop offering its copycat obesity pill after facing scrutiny from regulators and legal threats from Novo [3]. - The FDA plans to take legal action against Hims, including restricting access to ingredients and referring the company to the Department of Justice for potential violations [8]. Group 2: Market Context and Competition - The lawsuit occurs as Novo aims to reclaim market share in the growing obesity drug market, facing competition from Eli Lilly and compounded alternatives [4]. - Novo has increased manufacturing capacity, eliminating shortages of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, which has seen a successful launch since January [5]. - Despite the lack of shortages, an estimated 1.5 million Americans are using compounded GLP-1 drugs, indicating a significant market for alternatives [5]. Group 3: Regulatory and Safety Concerns - Hims claims its compounded products are legal due to personalized dosages, despite semaglutide being protected by U.S. patents until 2032 [6]. - Novo argues that Hims is engaging in illegal mass compounding, undermining safety and efficacy standards established by the FDA [7]. - The aggressive legal actions by Novo and Lilly against compounding pharmacies reflect the rising popularity of their weight loss and diabetes drugs [9].

A real estate project under construction along the ancient Huai River in Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province, China on January 29, 2026.BEIJING — S&P Global Ratings has lowered its forecast for China property sales this year, barely two months into 2026.The firm said Sunday that primary real estate sales will likely drop by 10% to 14% this year, worse than the 5% to 8% decline for 2026 sales predicted back in October."This is a downturn so entrenched that only the government has capacity to absorb the excess inv ...

Core Viewpoint - Big Tech stocks experienced significant market cap losses, totaling over $1 trillion, leading to cautious trading in the premarket session Group 1: Market Performance - As of 6:12 a.m. ET, Oracle increased by 1.5% and Microsoft by 0.8%, while Meta decreased by 0.3%, Amazon by 0.1%, Alphabet by 0.6%, and Nvidia by approximately 1% after a previous rebound of 7.9% [1] Group 2: Capital Expenditure Trends - The market reacted negatively to rising expenditure outlooks from Big Tech companies, which reported a combined capital expenditure of around $120 billion for the fourth quarter, with projections reaching $660 billion by 2026, surpassing the GDP of nations like the UAE, Singapore, and Israel [2] Group 3: Industry Insights - Cloud companies are seeing increasing margins but face potential stock volatility due to macroeconomic challenges; however, management teams express confidence in their demand forecasting and capacity utilization by 2026 [3]

Core Insights - Lyft has officially launched teen accounts nationwide to compete with Uber, focusing on safety and communication tools for parents and drivers [1][2] - The new program allows passengers aged 13 to 17 to be matched with drivers, incorporating safety features like pin verification, real-time tracking, and recordings [2] - Lyft's CEO David Risher emphasized the importance of thoughtful development based on feedback from parents and teens [1] Company Strategy - The launch of teen accounts is part of Lyft's strategy to differentiate itself from competitors, particularly Uber, which introduced similar accounts in May 2023 [3] - Risher highlighted that drivers eligible to transport teens must have a high star rating and should not have a significant number of rider blocks [2] Market Context - Lyft's initiative comes after Uber expanded its teen account offering to over 50 countries last year, indicating a growing trend in the rideshare industry to cater to younger passengers [3]

Core Viewpoint - The European Commission is considering imposing interim measures on Meta to prevent the exclusion of third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp, indicating a preliminary view that Meta has breached EU antitrust rules [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Actions - The European Commission has informed Meta of its intention to impose "interim measures" to ensure that third-party AI assistants can continue to access WhatsApp during an ongoing investigation [1][2]. - Commissioner Teresa Ribera emphasized the need for swift action to protect effective competition in rapidly developing AI markets, stating that the interim measures aim to prevent Meta from harming competition irreparably in Europe [2]. Group 2: Policy Changes by Meta - In October, Meta updated its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, effectively banning third-party general-purpose AI assistants from the application, with the new policy taking effect in January [3]. - The Commission's interim measures would require Meta to maintain access for third-party AI assistants under the previous terms while the investigation is ongoing [3]. Group 3: Meta's Response - A Meta spokesperson argued that there is no justification for EU intervention in the WhatsApp Business API, claiming that various AI options are available through app stores and other platforms [4]. - The spokesperson contended that the Commission's logic incorrectly assumes that the WhatsApp Business API is a key distribution channel for chatbots [4].

Core Viewpoint - NatWest announced a £2.7 billion ($3.7 billion) acquisition of Evelyn Partners, one of the U.K.'s largest wealth managers, leading to a decline of over 4% in its shares [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition will double NatWest's total assets under management to £127 billion, increasing from £59 billion [1] - The deal is positioned to create the UK's leading Private Banking and Wealth Management business, enhancing scale and capabilities in a market with significant growth potential [2] Group 2: Executive Commentary - NatWest Group's CEO Paul Thwaite emphasized the strategic importance of the transaction for success in a growing market [2] - Evelyn Partners' CEO Paul Geddes described the acquisition as marking an "exciting new chapter" for the wealth manager [2]

Core Viewpoint - U.S. Treasury yields increased at the start of the week as investors anticipated upcoming economic data, including the delayed January jobs report [1] Treasury Yields Summary - The 10-year Treasury yield rose over 2 basis points to 4.231% [1] - The 30-year Treasury yield increased by 1 basis point to 4.874% [1] - The 2-year Treasury note yield climbed more than 1 basis point to 3.514% [1] - It is noted that one basis point is equivalent to 0.01%, and yields and prices move in opposite directions [1]